Southern Towers Fire Leaves Three Homeless

A family of three were driven from their third floor apartment at 5021 Seminary Road in the Southern Towers complex early last Thursday morning by a blaze that caused an estimated $20,000 damage.

Responding to a 3:54 a.m. call, units from Alexandria Fire Department's Station 206 and several other stations brought the fire under control within "a very short period of time," according to Jane Malik, the department's public information officer. "There were no serious injuries reported," Malik confirmed.

"The cause of the fire was electrical," said Michael Connor, chief fire marshall,. "There was also some smoke damage to the apartment immediately above and some soot damage in the hallway."

One member of the family suffered a small burn on her leg, Malik acknowledged. "After being checked at the scene, she was taken to Northern Virginia Community Hospital where she was treated and released," Malik said.

THE ALEXANDRIA Chapter of the American Red Cross provided the family with temporary living quarters in an area hotel, according to Julia Wright, executive director. "If they need other assistance we will help with that also," Wright said. "They will be in their temporary quarters until more permanent housing can be found."

Management at Southern Towers could not give an estimate of how long the apartment would be uninhabitable. "That's up to the insurance company," a spokesperson said.

"But we are more than willing to make another apartment available based on what is available."